Notable successes: County breweries won 15 medals at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival, the nation’s largest brewing competition; and 16 awards at the 2012 World Beer Cup

San Diego Beer Week, that annual 10-day party, is over. Time to recycle the empties, roust the strangers who overnighted on your couch, and take stock.

Now what?

Within the industry, there’s buzz that craft beer is at a crossroads. Virtually every brewery in San Diego County reports rising sales and revenues, but many also have the nagging sense that the current pace can’t — and perhaps shouldn’t — continue.

“We are in a time of irrational exuberance in craft brewing,” said Greg Koch, co-founder and CEO of Stone Brewing. “We are like a Third World bus, with all these people hanging on to the roof. Sooner or later, we are going to hit a bump in the road.”

Here’s what insiders see on the road ahead:

Culling the herd

The county is now home to about 60 breweries, with nearly two dozen more in the planning stage. Many are thriving, but history indicates that some are doomed. The Brewhouse at Eastlake closed in October, while El Cajon Brewing Co. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (El Cajon is still open, and co-founder Stephan Meadows insists it will recover.)

This business is popular, yes, but also tricky. Consider what happened in the 1990s, when enthusiasm for “microbrews” led some operations to expand without solid business plans — and before mastering the ability to consistently brew quality beer.

“Some of the products out there were just bad,” said Scott Stamp, who cofounded the San Diego Brewing Co. in 1993. “Now, you’ve turned this customer off. ‘I knew it! It was all hype!’ ”

And brewers who take shortcuts in search of quick profits could damage the reputation of San Diego beer. “The long-term trends are in our favor,” insisted Chris Cramer, co-founder and CEO of Karl Strauss. “The biggest danger is that people will poison the well” with inferior products.

Growing pains

For the established breweries, ever-growing sales are a blessing and a challenge.

Karl Strauss, for instance, spent 23 years slaking the thirst of fans in Southern California. This July, though, the Pacific Beach-based company began distributing in Northern California. Since then, they’ve enjoyed a big success and a big headache.

“The sales up there have exceeded our expectations,” Cramer said. “So we had to discontinue bottling some brands to meet these new orders.”

Hasta la vista, Woodie Gold and Endless Summer. The bottling line is no longer turning out that pilsner and light beer, respectively, while Karl Strauss concentrates on other pints in its portfolio.

In theory, San Diego beers should be more available than ever. Karl Strauss is on track to produce 50,000 barrels during 2012, each barrel holding 31 gallons. Ballast Point, too, will end the year at 50,000 gallons, and Green Flash is close behind at 45,000 barrels. Stone, Southern California’s largest brewery, should hit 175,000-plus barrels — and plans to open a second brewery, in Liberty Station, next year.